Sheaf-loader



L. R. LONG, sum LOADEH. APPLICATION FILED DEC. 28, 19!]- 1,327,834,Patented Jan. 13, 1920.-

4 SHEETS-SHEEFI:

' V INVENTOR.

TTORNEY L. R. LONG.

SHEAF LOADER.

APPLICATION FILED 020.28, 1911.

Patefited Jan. 13, 1920.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

INVENTOR.

L. R. LONG.

'SHEAF LOADER.

APPLICATION FILED DEC. 28, 1917.

1,327,834, Patented Jan. 13, 1920.

WI TNESSES:

UNITED STATES PATENToFFIoE.

LESLIE 1%. Lone, 0F TIP'ION, IOWA.

V SHEAF-LOADER.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, LESLIE R. LONG, a citizen of the Dominion of Canada,residing at Tipton, in the countyyof Cedar and State of Iowa, haveinvented a certain new and useful Improvement in sheaf-Loaders, of whichthe following is a full, clear, concise, and exact description,reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of thisspecification.

The invention relates to harvesting machines, and primarily to that typeofthese devices which is designed to ,engageand' lift sheaves or shocksof grain from the ground and deposit them into a container as themachine travels across the field.

The invention has various objects including the provision of a means forengaging, grasping, lifting and depositing a sheaf or shock, and againlowering the lifting means to position'it to engage another shock, uponthe engagement of which a repetitionofthe above outlined operationtakesplacea A further object-of the invention; is the production of ameans whereby the conveyer may be automatically raised and lowered, whena'shock is deposited uponthe' conveyer and deposited therefrom. It isalso an object of the invention to manually control the lifting elementwhen occasion "requires this to be done.-

The invention contemplates the? use'of-a plurality of lifting elements,which are alternately raised and lowered toconveythe sheaves from theground and to deposit them. These lifting elements are arranged andconnected together so that upon the upward movement of one the other islowered. The above construction is such that one of these liftingelements maybe lifted and held against its downward movement withoutinterfering in any way with the satisfactory operation of theother. Thislastreferred to arrangement permits" both :of -,-the lifting elements tobe brought to a'raised EPOSltlOll and locked when in this condition tofacilitate the transportation of the device:%; y

The invention further (contemplates the use of a means operable fromtheseatfor unlocking the elevating elements to permit them to bereleased for operation. I

It; is a further:- object of the invention. to

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented Jan. 13, 1920; Applicationfiled December 28, 1917. 1 Serial No. 209,253.;

accomplishthese and other advantages in a simple and expeditious-mannerwithout re sulting in a corresponding reduction in the efliciency inconstructionor operation of the machine. I 4 The invention will be morereadily'understoodwhen read in conjunctionwith the accompanyingdrawings, in which Figure 1 is a side elevation of the device, showingthe same as applied to a wagonbox orbody;

Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken on line 2--2ofFig.1;- w Fig. 3 is adetail of the grasping mechanism;

Fig. 4 is a detail of the' mechanism operable by the sheaf for throwingthe mechanism into operative position; Fig. 5 is a detail plan viewofthe winding drums used in the machine; and v 6 is a perspective viewof a lock and lock releasing mechanism employed The invention will beexplained as being connected. to a'wagon box or bodyjinto which thesheaves are deposited, although it is .evi-

dent that=the apparatus may be connected directly to any other1nachine,,such as a thresher, also that the whole. apparatus may bemounted upon napframe which may be interchangeably connected to eitherawagon box or other machine as found desirable. Generally speaking themechanismfor carrying outthe invention will include a pair of bundlereceiving arms ,-which are. alternately raised and lowered to their;bundle discharging and receiving positiom The means for raising andlowering these arms includes a suitable clutch mechanism which isthrowninto engagement with acontinuously rotating shaft, which causesone ofthe armsto be-raised, the operation of thisele- 'vating mechanismcontrolling the Otllfilflfil'ill as 1t 15 lowered into its i-bundle rece1v1ng.

position. The deposit of a bundle upon this arm causes arepetition of'theoperatiion just described. When either of these-arm's reaches itsuppermost position, the, ,ch tch "which; caused it to be raisedto buidlei'dischargingr position is automatically disengaged, in whichposition; it' is retained until a bundle is deposited uponthe arm is lare -a; is

In the embodiment of the invention as.

illustrated in the drawings, the use of a wagon box or body 10 havingthe front and rear trucks and wheels 11 and 12 is contemplated. To oneof these rear wheels 12 is suitably secured the sprocket wheel 13 havingthe sprocket chain 14 which drives the sprocket wheel 15 arranged uponthe jack shaft 16. This jack shaft is continuously rotated by thesprocket 13 and chain 14 when the wagon is drawn across the field. Thisjack shaft has a gear 17 which meshes with and drives the gears 18 and19 arranged upon the shafts 20 and 21. These shafts each have a gear 22loosely mounted thereon, which mesh with each other and drive theirrespective cable drums 24 and 25, when either of the clutches 26 or 27is operated to connect said drums with the shafts 20 or 21 which arecontinuously rotated by the shaft 16. Each of these drums has attachedthereto one end of a cable 29, which extends from the drum over thepulleys and 31, and has its opposite end secured to its respective drum24 or 25. The gears 2222 cause the drums 24 and 25 to rotate in oppositedirections which causes one of the cables 29 to be wound upon and theother let off when either of the clutches 26 or 27 is connected to driveits respective drum. Thus one of the arms 32 or 33 will be raised whilethe other is lowered to bundle receiving and discharging position, wheneither of the clutches is in operative position. These clutches areautomatically disconnected by the particular arm 32 or 33 which theycontrol when the arm has reached its bundle discharging position. Theclutches 26 and 27 are both under manual and automatic control, so thateither arm may be lifted over any obstacle or to its bundle dischargingposition. The means whereby this feature may be accomplished manuallyinclude separate instrumentalities which control each clutch. Beingidentical only one will be explained. This means includes the foot lever35, shaft 36 and forked clutch lever 37. The shaft 36 is journaled inbrackets 38 and 39 secured to the wagon box in the usual manner. Shouldit be desired to lift the arm such as 32 partially or. completely, bythe mechanism just described, the operator will press upon the footlever 35. This op.- erates the clutch 26 and connects the drum 24 withthe shaft 20 causing the cable 29 of this drum to be wound thereon,which lifts the particular arm to which this cable connected and lowersthe other arm as 33, this lowering being accomplished by the gears 22;The clutch may be left in connection or disconnected which will causethe arm to be raised to its fullest extent, or only partially, asdesired. The shaft 36 is provided with a lever arm 40 which ispositioned thereon in the path of the arm, such as 32, to be engagedthereby to disconnect the clutch when the arm reaches its highestposition. The arm 33 is provided with a lug 41 so that the arm 42 of theshaft 43 will be properly engaged to disconnect the particular clutchwhich the shaft 43 operates. These arms 32 and 33 are provided withmeans for automatically throwing the clutches 26 and 27 into operationwhen a sheaf is deposited thereon. This means includes the arm 44 whichis positioned upon the arms 32-33 in the path of the sheaf. This arm 44has a lever 45 to which is se cured one end of a cable 46 which extendsover a suitable pulley 47 and has its opposite end secured to the lever40 or 42. Thus when the arm 44 is lowered by the sheaf, the lever 40will be operated to throw its particular clutch 26 into operation,causing the arm to be raised and the bundle to be deposited. Theclutches are thrown out of operation by the bundle carrying arm engagingits respective lever 40 or 42. Each of the bundle carrying arms 32 and33 has pivotally secured thereto a cradle 49 into which the sheaf orshock falls when engaged thereby. This cradle has a grasping devicewhich engages the bundle and holds same in the cradle until the armssuch as 32 and 33, to which they are attached, reach their uppermostor-discharging position. These cra- '50 is pivoted at 53 to the armssuch as 32 and 33 and has the rearwardly extending arms 5454, eachhaving a roller 55. The arms 5454 are permitted to swing'to a certainlimit by the chains 56. One of these arms forms the actuating means forthe grasping device which holds the bundle after it has been depositedupon the cradle. These grasping devices consist of the swinging bars57-57 which are pivoted to the outermost end of the cradle, and areactuated by the lever 58 and the bell crank lever 59, which areconnected together by the cord 60 which is fastened. to one end of thebell crank lever. The opposite end of this bell crank lever engages andrides upon one of the arms 54 of the cradle and is actuated thereby whenthe arm such as is raised. The grasping arm 57 is retracted by thespring 61 which releases these arms when the cradle reaches theuppermost position shown in Fig. 2. When either of the arms 32 or 33 israised the'downward swing of the cradle will cause the arms 54 to move.This causes the bell. crank lever to be operated closing the graspingdevices around the bundle. This condition exists until the roller 55 ofthe arm 54 engages the plate 63.

the edge of the box This causes the cradle to be turned on its pivot,releases the grasping devices, and permits the bundle to drop into thevehicle.

Each of the arms 32 and 33 is provided with a catch 64 which maybehooked over the edge of the vehicle body to hold the arm and cradle inits raised position when the machine is being transported from one placeto another, and the operation of the arms is not desired. This catch isprevented from operating each time the arm reaches its uppermostposition by the pivoted element 65 having the ledge 66 which is in thesame plane with the portion over which the catch is hooked when the armis retained in its uppermost position. This catch rides upon the ledgeand is prevented from looking the arm. The element 65 has a rod 67 whichextends near the driver so that it can be swung downwardly to permit thecatch to operate. This element may also be operated to engage the catchto release it from its holding position when desired. The windlass has aprovision which prevents the operation of either of the drums when thearm which it operates is held in its upward position and which will notprevent the operation of both drums when this is desired. Thus theremaining arm may be raised without'operating the other drum which wouldunwind the cable of this drum when its particular arm is raised. Toaccomplish this end each gear wheel 22 is loosely arranged upon theshafts 20 and 21 and each is provided'with a clutch 68 which is operatedto disconnect the drum and gear wheel 22, permitting one of the gears torun idle without I operating its particular drum. The clutches 68 areoperated by levers 68 which are con trolled by any suitable meansprovided at a convenient place near the operator.

From the foregoing explanation of the operation of the device it canreadily be seen that as the device as a whole is operated along theground, and one of the clutches 26 or 27 is operated, its respectivedrum will. be caused to revolve, winding the cable'upon' it and raisingthe particular arm to which it is attached, carrying the sheaf or shockover or body into which the sheaf is deposited. At this time one of thelevers 40 will be operated, which disengages the particular clutch whichhas been previously thrown into operation. It is also evident thatduring the raising of one of the cradle arms the other will be loweredinto position to engage another shock or sheaf.

This operation will be continued until a sufficient number of sheaveshave been collected. To insure the lowering of these arms which carrythe cradle, the springs 70 are provided. These springs are engaged andput under tension by their engagement with the arms 3:2 and 33, whenthese last named independently of the other.

Letters Patent is:

1. In a device of the class described, the

combination of a pair of bundle receiving and dischargingarms secured toand operable by the movement of a vehicle, each of said arms havingmeans for'raising said arms, the means of one arm being cooperativelyconnected 'withtlie means ofthe other arm, to control the loweringof oneof What I claim and desire to cover by the arms when the other israisedan d means permitting one armto be raised and'lowered 2. In adevice of the class described,the combination of a pair of bundlereceiving and discharging arms secured toand operable bythe movement ofa vehicle, each of said arms having means for raising said arms, themeans of one arm being cooperatively connected with the means of theother arm, and forming a means for control- I ling the lowering of oneof the arms when the other is raised, and means preventing the operationof the raising means when one of the arms reaches its uppermostposition.

3. In a device of the class: described, the

combination of a pairofrbundle receiving and dischargingarms secured toand operable by the movement of-a vehicle, means for alternately'raisingsaid arms, the means of one arm being cooperatively connected with themeans o'fthe otherarm, andformmg a means for controlling the lowering ofone of the arms when the otlier'israised,

said means including means permitting one armto be raised. and loweredindependently of the other. I

4:. In a device of the class;.described,'. tlie combiiiatioiiof a "pairof'a rms' constructed to be alternatelyraised and lowered, means forraising-one of said arms, means for coiitrolling the lowering of theother arm, and

means for preventing the operation of'the raising means when said armwhich is raised reaches its uppermost position.

5. In a device of the class described, the combination of a pair of armsconstructed to'be alternately raised and lowered, means for raising oneof. said arms, means for controlling the lowering of the other arm, andmeans for preventing the operation-oi the:

raising means when said arm which is raised reaches its uppermostposition, said means .being operable by the arm when raised.

6. In a device of the class described, the

combination of a pair of arms constructedto be alternately raised andlowered to bundle discharging and receiving position, means for raisingone of said arms, said means being operable by the bundle, and means forpreventing the operation of said arm, said means being operable by thearm which is raised.

7. In a device of the class described, the combination of a pair of armsconstructed to be alternately moved to bundle receiving and dischargingposition, means for holding one of said arms against movement, and meanswhereby the other arm may be moved to receive and discharge a bundlewithout movingthe arm which is held.

8. In a device of the class described, the combination of an armarranged to be moved in a vertical plane, a cradle having grasping meansand constructed to be raised and lowered with the arm from bundlereceiving to discharging position, said cradle being mounted upon thearm upon a horizontal pivot to swing from one side to the other of thearm when the arm is raised and lowered to bundle receiving anddischarging position, said grasping means being automatically operableto grasp a bundle when the arm is raised and permitted to release abundle when the arm is moved to bundle discharging position.

9. In a device of the class described the combination of an armconstructed to be moved in a vertical plane from bundle receiving todischarging position, a cradle having grasping means, said cradle andgrasping means being connected together and pivoted to the arm so as toswing loosely in the same plane with the arm from one side ofthe pivotof the cradle to the other during the movement of the arm.

10. A device of the class described comprising in combination, an armconstructed to be raised and lowered from a bundle receiving to adischarging position, a cradle arranged upon the arm, said cradle beingpivoted to the arm and movable in a vertical plane to positions uponopposite sides of the pivot, grasping means for grasping the bundle, andmeans for operating the grasping means, said means being arranged uponthe arm, and operable by the cradle.

11. A device of the class described comprising in combination, an armconstructed to be raised and lowered from a bundle receiving to adischarging position, a cradle arranged upon the arm into which a bundleis deposited, grasping means cooperating with the cradle and means forinverting the cradle to discharge the bundle from the cradle, said meansbeing operable to actuate the grasping means when the arm carrying thecradle is moved to discharging position.

12'. A device of the class described comprising in combination, an armconstructed to be raised and lowered from a bundle receiving to adischarging position, a cradle arranged upon the arm into which a bundleis deposited, grasping means cooperating with the cradle, and means forinverting the cradle to discharge a bundle therefrom, said means beingoperable to actuate the grasping means to grasp and release a bundle.

13. A device of the class described comprising in combination, an armconstructed to be raised and lowered from bundle receiving todischarging position, the arm being arranged to assume a substantiallyvertical position when raised, a cradle pivoted to the arm, means forgrasping a bundle, means whereby the cradle is operated to discharge thebundle therefrom, said means including a means whereby the cradle isturned upon its pivot and inverted to discharge the bundle therefrom,and serving to release the grasping means when the cradle is inverted.

14. A device of the class described comprising in combination, an armconstructed to be raised and lowered from bundle receiving todischarging position, the arm being arranged to assume a substantiallyvertical position when raised, a cradle pivoted tothe arm and meanswhereby the cradle is turned upon its pivot and inverted to dischargethe bundle therefrom.

15. A device of the class described comprising in combination, an armconstructed to be raised and lowered from bundle receiving todischarging position, means for raising said arm, means for preventingthe operation of said arm, said last mentioned means being operable bythe arm, a cradle arranged upon the arm, grasping means, said graspingmeans being operable by the cradle, and means for discharging thecradle,

said means being operable by a means arranged upon the cradle. I

16. A device of the class described comprising in combination, an armconstructed to be'raised and lowered from bundle receiving todischarging position, means for raising said arm, means for preventingthe raising of said arm, said last mentioned means being operable by thearm, a cradle arranged upon the arm, grasping means operable by thecradle, and means for discharging the cradle, said means being operableby a means arranged upon the cradle, and said means forminga means forreleasing the grasping means.

17. A device of the class described comprising in combination, an armconstructed to be raised and lowered from bundle receiv ing todischarging position, a cradle arranged upon the arm, said cradle havinggrasping means, means for actuating the grasping means, the cradle beingpivoted to the arm and having a member extending therefrom, said memberproviding means for actuating the grasping means and to ronseasee tatethe cradle to discharge the same when the arm is raised, and means forengaging said member to cause the rotation of the cradle.

18. A device of the class described comprising in combination, an armconstructed to be raised and lowered from bundle receiving todischarging position, a cradle pivoted upon the arm, and having aportion extending in a direction opposite to the cradle, grasping meansarranged upon the cradle and means arranged upon the arm for operatingthe grasping means, said last mentioned means being operated by theportion which extends from the cradle.

19. In a device of the class described, the combination of an armarranged to swing from bundle receiving to bundle discharging position,a cradle having grasping means provided upon the arm, said cradle andgrasping means being arranged to assume a position upon one side of thearm when lowered to receive a bundle and to assume a position transverseto the arm when the arm is raised to discharge the bundle, and thecradle and arm being movable in planes which correspond to each otherwhen moved to receiving and discharging position, and means foroperating the grasping means to release the bundle when the cradleassumes a position upon one side of the arm.

20. In a sheaf loading device, the combination of a pair of bundlereceiving and discharging arms, a pair of winding drums one for eacharm, means for driving the drums, means connecting each arm with itsrespective drum, means connecting both drums together to control thelowering of one arm when the other is raised, and a clutch for each drumoperable to actuate the drum to raise the arm connected to the drum.

21. In a device of the class described, the combination of a bundlereceiving arm constructed to be raised and lowered to receive anddischarge a bundle, means provided upon the arm for holding said arm inraised position, and means constructed to be positioned to prevent theoperation of the holding means when said arm is raised and lowered andto permit the first mentioned means to hold the arm in raised positionupon the operation of the second mentioned means.

22. In a device of the class described, the combination of a bundlereceiving arm arranged to be raised and lowered to receive and dischargea bundle, said arm being secured to a vehicle and constructed to carrythe bundle from one side of the vehicle to the other, said arm havingmeans constructed to engage the vehicle to hold same in elevatedposition, and means normally arranged to prevent the operation of theholding means to permit the arm to be raised and lowered.

23. In a device of the class described, the combination of a pair ofbundle receiving and discharging arms secured to and operable by themovement of the vehicle, means for raising either of said arms andlowering the other when the former is raised, the means of one arm beingoperably connected with the means of the other arm and controlling thelowering of one of the arms when the other is raised.

24. In a device of the class described, the combination of a pair ofbundle receiving and discharging arms, each arm having means whereby itmay be raised, means for operating either of said means and meansconnecting both of the first mentioned means said means controlling thelowering of one arm when the other is raised.

25. In a device of the class described, the combination of a pair ofbundle receiving and discharging arms, each arm having means whereby itmay be raised, a shaft for operating said means of each arm, aconnection between said means whereby one arm is raised and the otherlowered and clutches arranged between said meansv and the shaft forcausing the operation of the raising means.

26. In a device of the class described, the combination of acontinuously rotating shaft, a pair of bundle receiving and dischargingarms, means for causing said arms to be raised and lowered, means forconnecting said last mentioned means with said shaft to cause theoperation of the raising means said raising means of one arm beingoperably connected with the raising means of the other arm to cause oneof said arms to be lowered when the other is raised.

In witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my giame this 10th day ofDecember, A. D., 191

LESLIE R. LONG.

